Can British Shorthair Cats Go Outside?

It seems like nowadays the internet is divided between cat videos and bad news. Have no worries, you’re in a safe haven because I do intend to talk about cats. Even from Ancient Egypt, cats have been worshipped and praised and loved.

Hearing them purr or just watching them sleep in adorable positions are some of the small things that make us love them forever.

The good side of cats is that each breed has its own particularity, but all of them are lovable and cute in the end.

There has always been a debate whether you should leave your cat outside, and while some others swear by it, many aren’t so delighted at the idea. Now while I’d love to continue that vast subject, we’ll focus on one breed’s outside rights: British Shorthair.

Can you leave your British Shorthair outside?

Yes, you can allow British Shorthair to go outside, but only in a safe and controlled environment. You need to keep an eye on them while outside as it can be dangerous for a cat that doesn’t find climbing or jumping easy.

We all know that cats are mostly domesticated and it’s very common to have indoor cats, more than letting them outside in the streets. But for people who might live on the ground floor or have a garden, it might come in handy to let them have a bit of outside fun.

If you don’t want your cat outside, you can get certain toys like these which will make your cat more active indoor. Exercise is very important for an indoor cat. If your cat lacks exercise it can develop health issues over time, including obesity.

Because they’re very affectionate and sociable, British Shorthairs enjoy human companionship and get along well with children and other pets. While they’re loving, they’re also independent, which could do them some good to let them walk around a bit.

They’re also even-tempered and quiet, calm, and adaptable. However, given their size, do not expect your typical jumpy cat, as they can be a bit clumsy and they shy away from jumping and climbing.

Taking this into consideration, you might want to think twice about letting them outside in a very dangerous environment, where they’d have to run away from dogs and climb fences or jump over obstacles.

This breed is also moderately active. While energetic when they’re kittens (like any other breed, really), British Shorthairs start to settle down by the time he is a year old. Because they can get pretty big, do not expect the graceful behavior a normal pedigree breed has.

My British Shorthair wants to go outside – How do I do it?

Cats are usually very curious creatures by nature. I don’t know if the actual outside is a curiosity for them, or if they just want to go because it’s the forbidden fruit. Whatever the reasoning, cats always are trying to get a sneak peek outside. And your British Shorthair is no different.

Most important tip: If you want to be sure you won’t lose your cat, get a cat leash, a leash with a bell or even fancier, a leash with GPS (more expensive though). Links to Amazon attached.

So let’s take a look at some perks and disadvantages of leaving your cat to roam around free.

What perks do I have if I let my pet outside?

1. It’s a known fact that if you let them go outside, that will definitely mean more exercise for your cat. Even if they just walk around your garden, the air will help you have a healthier cat.
2. If your cat is stressed for whatever reason, going outdoors might help them become calmer and ease their anxiety. Of course, this depends on the environment outside, whether he feels safe or has to worry about other animals or people walking past every time.
3. The cat will be more stimulated and happier. Indoor cats require a lot of toys, cat trees and you often have to play with them to keep them healthy and entertained. If you let your cat outside, he might have more activities and the simple bird watching from a window can turn into a bird-chasing activity.
4. Also, you will no longer have to stress over smelly litter trays, if you end up teaching your cat to go outside to do their business.
5. While the British Shorthair might have their own health problems, like any other pedigreed and mixed-breed cat, they don’t have specific serious health issues that might affect their outdoor rights.

What about the disadvantages, you say?

1. We all know that letting our pets outside lead them to be vulnerable to outside factors that we simply can’t control, like cars driving down the road or all sorts of evil people out there. Being a moderately active cat, it might not be fast enough he tries to cross the street, and it might run the risk of being killed by a car.
2. Being a pedigree breed, British Shorthairs are more likely to be stolen than other regular breeds, so you also need to pay attention to the neighborhood where you live.
3. They have higher chances of catching diseases from other cats or other animals. Also, there will be lower chances of catching fleas or worms from vermin.
4. While I mentioned this as a perk, going outside can either calm your cat, or it can give it anxiety if they don’t feel confident in their surroundings. They might usually get stressed if they feel like the territory belongs to some other cat, or if dogs are regularly passing by your house.
5. If they are not neutered, you might have to deal with unplanned pregnancy. And while kittens are adorable, can you afford to have them all?

How did these little balls of fur appear?

Now, I know there are a lot of great breeds out there. I own a Siamese and an orange cat, and I should not have any preferences. Cats are cats, and they’re all great. But I have to admit I have a soft spot for British Shorthair.

As far as history goes, the records go back to when the Romans invaded Britain and brought Egyptian cats with them to help protect their food supply from rodents.

After the Romans left, the cats stayed and continued breeding. When they started recognizing cats in Victorian England, the British Shorthair was one of the first breeds to develop (although they’re simply known as Shorthair in Britain).

Like many other breeds, British Shorthairs almost became extinct during World War II due to food shortage, but it was revived by breed-crossing with Russian Blues, Persians and other cats.

In the United States, the American Cat Association recognized the British Blue in 1967.

What makes your British Shorthair special?

Known as the pedigreed version of a British domestic cat, British Shorthairs are a bit more special than your everyday Tom.

It’s a relatively powerful-looking large cat, with a broad chest and big legs and rounded paws. The head is relatively large with large round eyes. It has a different range of coat colors, from grey to blue or silver tabby.

Unlike other breeds, they are slow to mature, reaching their full physical development around three years of age.

Interesting Trivia

• While you might not know this, the British Shorthair has been around you for a long time. A beautiful breed, the Shorthair has been made famous by several people, notably being the inspiration for John Tenniel’s famous illustration of the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland. Also, another distinctive British Shorthair was also the inspiration for Puss in Boots, only it was an orange one.
• And you might have fallen in love with a British Shorthair from the beautiful Whiskas
• One more interesting fact is that the British Blue variant is often confused with the grey Scottish Fold. The differences between them are that the Shorthair is considerably larger with pointy triangle ears, whereas the Scottish Fold has softer, folded ears.

So…

Leaving your cat outside is not always such a bad idea. If you happen to have a protected garden that’s far away from the main, crowded streets, it might actually be the best thing for your British Shorthair.

And if it’s not, you can definitely go out with them for a few minutes and watch over your favorite friend. Of course, the decision is up to you, but if you can provide this costless happiness to your cat, wouldn’t you rather give him the opportunity to explore?